Container



June 14, 1960 l J. c. GaAvEN Re. 24,839

CONTAINER l Griginal Filed Jan. 14, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J6' f 15'INVENTOR.

1'? Jau/v a. BRnvE/vn United States Patent i' CONTAINER 4 `lohn Graveno,South Euclid, O hio, assignor of onehalf to Joseph E. Stern, EastCleveland, Ohio Original No. 2,634,896, dated Apr. 14, 1953, Ser. No.138,649, Jan. 14, 1950. Application for reissue July 8, 1959, Ser. No.825,855

3 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets [Il appears inthe original patent but forms nopart of this reissue specilication;matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates in general to containers suitable for packagingand dispensing milk and other liquids, and, more particularly to sealedcontainers of the type provided with collapsible, hidden sproutsarranged to be exposed by opening of such containers.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a container ofthe type referred to above, shaped from a single blank of inexpensive,foldable, moisture-proof material, the container including integrallyformed therewith a collapsible, spout-like closing and discharge portionwhich in collapsed condition forms a sealing ele* ment and in opened upcondition provides a discharge element.

Another object of the invention lis the provision of a container shapedfrom a single blank of inexpensive, foldable, moisture-proof material,the container being closed at its top by a staple member, and includingintegrally formed therewith a collapsible, spout-like closing anddischarge portion having its tip end folded inwardly, the closing anddischarge portion in collapsed condition forming a sealing elementreadily and easily exposed, and shaped to a discharge spout by tearingpart of the top of the container on predetermined tearing lines withoutthe necessity of removing the staple from such top.

The above and other objects of novelty of the invention will be eitherspecilically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for abetter understanding of my invention, to the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of completely sealed container constructedin accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the con tainer shown in Fig.l, the container being partly torn at i-ts top edge, showing thecollapsible, spout-like closing and discharge portion exposed and partlyopened up;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. `2 showing thecollapsible, spout-like closing and discharge portion fully exposed andopened up;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the completely sealedcontainer with parts broken away to disclose the sealing and closingportion of the collapsed, spout-like closing and discharge portion ofthe container; and

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the cut and scored blank prior to its foldinginto a container.

Referring now more specifically to the structure of the inventiondisclosed in the drawings, reference numeral 2 denotes a containerformed with a slanting top or closing end 3. This container is foldedfrom a pre-shaped, scored blank 4, (see Fig. 5) of suitable foldable,moisture-proof material, which blank is composed of four panels 5, 6, 7and 8 separated by vertical scored lines 9, 10 and 11 defining foldinglines and facilitating creasing of the blank. Adjoining to panel 8 andseparated therefrom Re. 24,839 Reissu'ed June 14, 1960 by a score line12,is a sealing flap 14 which is to receive an adhesive for attaching itto the inner face of the adjacent free edge of panel 5 when thecontainer is folded to shape. The lower ends of the panels are definedby a horizontal score line 15 forming a hinge line for the bottom iiaps16, 17 and 18 of the container which liaps form its bottom end and byoverlaying provide a bottom of double thickness insuring a strong andrugged structurc. The upper horizontal score line 19 also forms a hinge`line and separates the side panels 5, 6, 7 and 8 from top sealing ilaps21, 22, 23 and 24 which are horizontally scored by score line 20 for apurpose later to be described. Sealing aps 21 and 23 are identical inconstruction, each including a secondary sealing flap section 25, 26respectively, formed by scoring the iiaps on lines 27, 28 respectively,which score lines are partly perforated as indicated at 29 and 30. Thesealing lllaps 22 and 24 are of identical construction with theexception that sealing flap 22 additionally includes an extension 31 tobe used for a purpose later to be described.

Sealing flap 24 is scored on diagonal lines 32, 33 which runsymmetrically at an inclination from the lower corners 34, of the ap toa point 36 on score line 20 and thence into `a single vertical line 37ending at the upper edge 38 of such ilap. In closed, sealed condition ofthe container, top sealing flaps 22 and 24 extended upwardly from sidepanels 6 and 8 are tucked under the top sealing `flaps 21 and 23. Thisis effected by folding the flaps 22 and 24 on score lines 32, 33 and 317and 32', 33 and 37' until adjoiningportions of the score line 20 contacteach other, folding of one of the two secondary sealing ap sections 25,26 over the top edges of the vertically extended portions 39, 40, 41 and42 of the respective top sealing flaps and Ithe other one of saidsecondary sealing ilap sections, and rigidly connecting the sealing lapsections in their closed position by a staple 43 which is extendedthroughksecondary sealing flap sections 2S, 26 and the verticallyextended portions 39, 41 and 42.

Sealingflap section `40 is not penetrated by staple 43 so as to permitpulling out of the flap section 22 to act as a dispensing spout. Forsuch purpose sealing flap 22 has the score lines 32', 33' and 37-whiehare the equivalent of score lines 32, 33 and 37 on sealing ilap section24-extended on straight lines beyond their meetingA point 36 to the topedge 44 of flap 22 and has portion 45 arranged between the extendedscore lines 32 and 33' folded outwardly -to prevent gripping of saidportion 45.

Containers of the type described have a fluid-tightly sea-led topportion including a collapsible, spout-like closing and discharge ilapportion 22 which for dispensing purposes can readily be pulled out andopenly exposedk without removing staple 43 after secondary sealing flapsections 25 and 26 are partly torn from sealing ap sections 21 and 23 onperforated lines 29 and 30, to permit such pulling out of thecollapsible, spoutslike closing and discharge liap portion 22, all asclearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

However, outward folding of the portion 4S of top sealing flap 22effects lowering of the top edge of this portion and such lowering ofthe top edge of portion 45 may cause leakage of the sea-led container in.this area of such portion. Such a danger of leakage at this point isovercome by providing flap 22 with the extension 31 previously referredto. This extension which is an integral part of flap 22 and extends fromthe middle portion of its top edge 44, forms a collapsible secondaryspout section on the portion 45 of lflap 22. For such purpose extension31 is separated from portion 45 by a score line 46. Furthermore, scoreline 37 continues through extension 31 as score line 47, and inallyextension 31 is additionally scored by two incl-ined score lines 48 and#este 49 which extend fromj the intersecting point of score line 37' andscore line 46 in substantially `parallelrelation" to score lines 32 and33'.

IExtension 31 which in the sealed container is folded inwardly (see Fig.4) and uidtightly seals the above referred to possible point ofleakageof the container also simplifies pulling out of the collapsibledischargespout when secondary sealing flap sect-ions 25` and are partlytorn from the container in the manner previously described.

Containers of the type described can readily and easily be suicierrtlyopened for discharge of their contents without removal of the staplesholding the container in sealed condition by partly tearing secondarysealing'ap sections 25 and 26 from top sealing naps 21 and 23 onperforated' lines 29 and 30, outward spreading of these top sealingflaps to a position such as shown in Fig. 2 and outward pull-ing ofsealing flap 22 to discharge position (see Fig. 3) in which latterposition these 'sealing'ilaps 22 form spout-like discharge elements forthe containers. Containers of this type also permit reclosing so as toproperly protect any residue of their contents when the sealing ilapsare pushed inwardly -to their original sealing po` sitions.

Having thus described my invention what'I claim is:

l. A liquid container of foldable, moisture-proof material comprisingfour side-walls scored at theirupper ends to provide a closure embodyinga pair of outer sealing members and a pair of innersealing membersvarranged between said outer sealing members and cooperating therewith,said inner sealing members each being inwardly folded on symmetricallyarranged inclined'fold lines intersecting each other and a horizontallyarrangedl fold -line extended through the point of'intersectionl of saidinclined foldv lines to form each inner sealing member with a single,inwardly and upwardly extended, Ytriangularly shaped portion, engagingmeans for holding the outer and the inwardly folded inner sealingmembers together in closed relational their upper ends and meanscoasting therewith to isolatewone of said inwardly folded inner sealingmembers from engagement by said rengaging means, said non-engaged one ofthe inner sealing members having rits Vinclined fold' linesextendedbeyond the point of intersection to the top edge lof suchsealing member and the area of such sealing member between the extendedportions of the inclined fold lines adapted to be folded outwardly toform said inner sealing member vwith an outwardly extended collapsiblespoutlike discharge element extended above fthe trianglarly shaped sideportion of said inner sealing member'.

2. A liquid container as described inl claim l,\wherein the said oneinner sealing member includes at .its top edge an extension opposite thearea enclosed bythe extended portions of said inclined fold lines,wherein 'said extension is formed with fold lines arranged parallel'tothe said Vinclined fold lines, andy whereinsaid extension is yfolded onits fold lines to decrease the size of the top opening of the collapsedspout-like discharge element and facilitates sealing of such dischargeelement when in cllapsed'post-iori."

3. A liquid container of foldable, moisture-proof maferial comprising,four side-walls scored at their upper enfds along four yrst horizontalfold lines all at a common level to provide a closure above said jrsthorizontal fold lines embodying a pair of outer sealing members and apair of inner sealing members arranged between said outer sealingmembers and cooperating therewith, each of said inner and outer sealingmembers having a second lhorizontal fold line extending across its upperportion to define an integral secondaryy sealing member associated witheach of said sealing members above said second hori- Zontal fold line,said second horizontal fold linesbeing on a common level, said innersealing members each being inwardly folded below its associated secondhorizontal fold line on symmetrically arranged inclined fold linesintersecting each other, theassociated second horizontally arranged foldlines being extended through the point of intersection of thecorresponding inclined fold lines to form each inner sealing member witha single inwardly and upwardly extending, triangularly-shapea' portionbet low said associated second horizontalyold lines respectively, saidsecondary sealing members being disposed in folded juxtaposedrelationship with a secondary sealing member associated with one of saidouter sealing members being'disposed outermost and being folded insurrounding relationship around the remaining secondary sealing members,engaging means for holding the secondary sealing members of said pair ofouter sealing members and of said inwardly folded inner sealing mem'-bers together to maintain the juxatposed relationship and means coactingtherewith to isolate one of said inwardly folded inner sealing membersfrom engagement by said engaging means, other means for facilitating theseparation from said ljuxtaposed relationship of said secondary sealingmember Vportions associated with said vouter sealing members adjacentthe non-engaged inner Y larly shaped side sealing member to permit itsready release from its inwardly folded position, said non-engaged one ofthe inner sealing members having its inclined fold lines extended beyondthe point of intersection to th'e top edge of such sealing member andthe portion of such sealing member at the extended portions of theinclined fold lines adapted to be folded outwardly to form saidnon-engaged inner sealing member with an outwardly extended collapsiblespout-like discharge element extended above the trianguportion of saidnonengaged inner sealing'member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,158,097 Wentz May 16, 19,39 2,321,139 Grugerlune A8, 1943 2,336,503 Ringler Dec. 14, 1943 2,337,730 Berch 28, 1943

